Box holder



-J. C. DUKE March 15, 1932.

BOX HOLDER Fi led May 1, 1930 Jb/IIZ CCDLl/Z'fi 3mm I I I Mme/go.

Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES JOHN C. DUKE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BOX HOLDER Application filed May 1,

This invention relates to a device for attachment to boxes whereby they can be supported in inclined positions with their lids held positivelyopen so that the contents of the box can be viewed readily.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple and inexpensive one-piece device of this character which can be used not only for display purposes, but can also be employed as a means for identifying the contelntg of the box to which the holder is app A further object is to provide a holder which can be applied readily to a box and will remain firmly assembled therewith should the box be lifted by the lid or other portion thereof.

I/Vith the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the holder, the same being shown in engagement with a box which is illustrated in section.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the holder.

Figure 3 is a front elevation thereof. Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates an elongated strip formed of sheet metal of requisite stiffness, having one end offset at 2 and merging into a backing tongue 3.

A finger 4 can be struck from'the tongue adjacent to the offset 2 so as to lie substantially parallel therewith and at a distance there from equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of a box lid. This finger can be of any shape desired and is preferably formed with a point or a sharpened edge to facilitate its insertion between a box and its cover at the hinge.

1930. Serial No, 449,010.

Extending from the strip 1 at an inter mediate point are one or more supporting fin.- gers 5 each of which has a short prong or spur 6. These fingers are preferably made integral with the strip 1 and canbe struck from the sidesthereof or at any other point or points found most desirable.

The distance between the offset 2 and the fingers 5 is substantially equal to or slightly greater than the height of the box to which the holder is to be applied. In practice the finger 4 is inserted through the back of the box B between the wall thereof and the lid L until theoffset 2 abuts against the lid.

Thus the lid will be held between tongue 3 and finger 4. The holder is then swung downwardly against the back of the box, causing the lid to swing to open position and fingers i to move under and engage the bottom of the The relative positions of the parts which have been described are shown in Figure 1. It will be noted that the prongs 6 bite into the bottom of the box and the lid L is held in an upstanding position where it is fixed by the holder. By placing the box and the holder on a supporting surface, the box will be held inclined as shown, so that its contents can be viewed readily by customers. WVhen it is desired to remove the box for the purpose of serving a customer the lid L can this finger can be utilized for displaying a trade mark or the like for identifying the goods on display.

Obviously various modifications of the holder can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention disclosed.

What is claimed is: I

1. A holder for a box having'a hinged lid thereon including an elongated member, means integral therewith for engaging the box and supporting it in an inclined position, and means integral with said member for straddling-the edge portion of the lid of the box adjacent the hinge to hold it open, and to maintain the holder assembled with the box.

2. A holder for supporting a box having a lid in an inclined position including an elongated member, an offset portion adjacent one end of the member, means spaced from said portion and cooperating therewith for straddling a lower edge portion of the lid of an engaged box and means extending from the member for engaging and supporting the box at a point below the lid in an inclined position.

3. A holder for supporting in an inclined position a box having a hinged lid, said holder including an elongated member, an offset backing portion atone end thereof, means spaced from the backing portion for insertion between the box'and its lid at the hinge end thereof, and cooperating with the backing portion to hold the lid open, and means extending from the member for engaging and supportingthe box in an inclined position and holding the member against free movement relative to the box.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aifixed my signature. JOHN DUKE. r 

